Molana-al-Moazam Hazrat Shah Maghsoud Sadegh Angha (صادق عنقا)

Hazrat Shah Maghsoud Sadegh Angha is the forty-first Sufi master of the Oveyssi school. Hazrat Pir speaks with unceasing reverence of his father and predecessor- Molana Shah Maghsoud Sadegh Angha (Professor Angha). Hazrat Pir has written:

"His teaching marked the advent of a new era in the history of Sufism. The truth of Islam was to be made world-known (and he) gave me the responsibility to propogate this message to humanity."

Who was this teacher who proved to be such an influence on the evolution of Sufism? Born in Tehran on February 4, 1916, Professor Angha, from an early age, was surrounded by the teachings and wisdom of Sufism, as both his father and grand-father were Sufi masters of the school. When Professor Angha became the Sufi master on September 22, 1962 (as designated by his father), he was well prepared for the responsibilities. During the preceding 30 years, he had been rigorously trained by his father, who encouraged his son to cultivate his very considerable intelligence in many disciplines, including: philosophy, theology, poetry, mathematics, physics, astronomy, and alchemy.

Like his father and his father before him had done, on September 4, 1970, Professor Angha formally designated his son Hazrat Pir, Molana Salaheddin Ali Nader Shah Angha, the forty-second Sufi master of Maktab Tarighat Oveyssi Shahmaghsoudi, to be his successor.

Professor Angha passed away on November 17, 1980, but not before leaving a wealth of knowledge and teaching about his life's dedication and work.

During his life, Professor Angha produced more than 150 works of poetry and prose. Among them are Manifestations of Thought, Ghazaliat, the Mystery of Humanity, Al-Rasa'el, the Traditional Medicine of Iran, and the Hidden Angles of Life. From the vibrant imagery of the poems in Ghazaliat, to the complex reasoning of his Theory of Particle Structures, these writings continue to instruct, delight, and amaze, while being firmly rooted in Divinely transmited knowledge.

In 1976, a Japanese biologist interviewed Professor Angha and the result of the interaction was published as Dawn, which is an excellent introduction not only to the thought of Professor Angha, but also the teachings of Sufism as a whole. In this interview, Professor Angha formulated the idea that remains central to his son's thinking about how real world peace can be acheived:

"Principles that are used in limitation are not the means for the discovery of the infninite."

Sufism as taught by Professor Angha is both the art and science of applying metaphysical principles in the physical world. An example of this is his shrine near Novato, California, which was designed by Hazrat Pir as a memorial to his beloved father. When the dimensions of the building are converted according to the science of letters and numbers (jafr), the name of his father is obtained

The roof structure directs its angle into a pointed summit, representing the unification of the individual with God; which signifies that God can be known in the heavens- the heart, the pure elevated state of the person.

In addition to the design of the building, the close attention to details- carved and painted stucco with mirror inserts, mosaic tiles with gold, tile and mirror inlays, calligraphy, and smooth jet-black marble floor- creates an everlasting memorial to the great Master and father who, from his observatory in Tehran, once explored the infinity of both outer and inner space.

Sufis